With ten minutes remaining in Recreation 4 of the NBA Finals, it seemed just like the Indiana Pacers had been going to push the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to the brink of elimination by going up 3-1. Via three quarters, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s statline had followers on the web conjuring theories concerning his well being.
And but, when the ultimate buzzer sounded, the Thunder managed to flee Indianapolis with a seven-point victory, 111-104, a 14-point turnaround from the seven-point deficit they confronted when the sport gave the impression to be within the stability early within the fourth quarter (recreation log HERE).
OKC’s possibilities to win this sequence had been driving on the fourth quarter. Groups which have really feel behind 3-1 within the NBA Finals have misplaced 37 of the final 38 sequence. The one workforce to come back again to win down 3-1 in that time-frame is the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers.
MVP For A Motive
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 34 factors within the fourth, pushing his common to 32.8 factors per recreation in the course of the NBA Finals. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 factors within the last 4:38 and 11 within the last three minutes. As well as, Gilgeous-Alexander turned the third level guard in NBA historical past to eclipse 600 factors in a single playoff run, becoming a member of Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic.
Level guards with 600+ PTS in a playoff run:
Steph Curry
Luka Doncic
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pic.twitter.com/xzB1ErTk6Q— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) June 14, 2025
“We lastly strung collectively some stops,” Gilgeous-Alexander instructed ESPN postgame. “We weren’t capable of get stops. We weren’t taking the ball out of the basket, and their stress wasn’t the identical due to that. We had been capable of get out and play our recreation. It at all times begins with stops for us. We have to determine a strategy to swim collectively for a 48-minute recreation, however we did sufficient to get a W tonight.
“We knew it (was a must-win) after we awoke this morning. 3-1 is lots totally different than 2-2 going again house. We performed with desperation to finish the sport, and that is why we gained. We’ve obtained to attempt to preserve the identical desperation going into Recreation 5, Recreation 6, or no matter it might be.”
Stat Guide
The Thunder additionally obtained a major contribution from All-Star Jalen Williams, who scored 27 factors on 8-of-18 taking pictures. Alex Caruso added 20 factors in his half-hour off the bench, making seven of his 9 field-goal makes an attempt.
The Pacers led for a lot of the first quarter and practically your complete second half, extending that result in as many as 10 factors late within the third. Tyrese Haliburton scored 18 factors on 7-of-15 taking pictures (1-of-7 from 3), his third time being held beneath 20 factors in 4 NBA Finals video games. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 20 factors on 6-of-15 taking pictures, whereas Obi Toppin added 17 factors and 7 rebounds off the bench on 7-of-12 taking pictures.
Oklahoma Metropolis made 34-80 makes an attempt from the sector as a workforce (42.5 p.c), together with 11-of-36 of its 3-point makes an attempt. Indiana shot 37-of-78 from the sector (47.4 p.c) total, higher than the Thunder, however the Pacers’ 3-of-17 clip (17.6 p.c) from 3-point vary proved to be deadly.
